Page 119 of Pinch of Love

“That sounds easy, but we both have our lives in very different parts of the country. I’d never ask you to up and move to North Carolina. You’d be leaving all your rental homes and your family. You love Buttercup Lake.”

Cash nodded slowly, but he wouldn’t take his eyes off mine. “I’ve seen the highs of love and the lows, Maya. I know what it’s like to lose someone you think is going to be your forever.”

My throat tightened from his words. Was he falling as hard for me as I was for him?

“But I would never give up the highs I have to avoid the low.”

A tear ran down my cheek, and I wiped it away. “You’re a freaking poet, Cash Knox.”

He shrugged. “Just the way I see it. So, am I willing to lose you in order to try to have you?”

He didn’t answer his question, but I knew.

“You get me, Maya. You’ve seen my scars. You hear me when I don’t even speak. You understand parts of me I try to forget.” He rubbed his palms down his face. “That’s not easy to find.”

Another tear ran down my cheek, and I sniffled.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he said. Cash’s voice was tender, but his gaze could melt a wall of bricks.

“They’re part happy tears.” I sniffled again.

He pulled me into him and hugged me as Chewie jumped off the couch.

“How about we try to stay focused on the here and now?” He straightened and smiled at me, holding his giant pinkie finger up. “We vow to enjoy what we have for the next three weeks and not worry about what happens after.”

I let out a deep sigh and nodded, hoping I could stick to that. I wrapped my finger around his and smiled.

“What did my grandma want you to do about your brother and Daisy?” I asked, snuggling into him.

“They want me to wrangle my brother up here at the end of the month for a party.”

I laughed. “Which Daisy will undoubtedly show up for.”

Cash chuckled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she were the guest of honor.”

“Poor thing.”

He smiled at me. “Feel free to warn her.”

“No way, no how. I’m not getting in the middle of Grandma Millie’s matchmaking deals.”

Cash kissed my cheek. “You’re as bad as she is.”

“Not even.”

“Not gonna lie,” he said softly. “I’m going to miss this.”

I smiled and nodded, feeling his hand in mine. “The nights with you have been the best.”

His brows shot up. “Oh, yeah?”

“Not justthat.” I chuckled. “I mean this... hanging out with you on the couch, watching television, staring at the lake, eating popcorn.”

Cash’s smile fell slightly, and he nodded. “The nights have been unforgettable.”

I stretched my legs and wiggled my toes in my socks. “Look at that. No hideous boot holding me back. How about we take a dip in the lake?”

“Right now?”